{"id":35835,"date":"2019-12-23T04:06:56","date_gmt":"2019-12-23T10:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/?p=35835"},"modified":"2019-12-23T04:06:56","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T10:06:56","slug":"clutter-free-workspace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullfocus.co\/clutter-free-workspace\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps to a Clutter-Free Workspace"},"content":{"rendered":"

A lot of productive people operate in disorganized workspaces. The problem is that they\u2019re not as productive as they could be. The hidden culprit stealing their focus is clutter.<\/p>\n\n

When I moved into my new office a while back, I was in the middle of a massive video shoot. Time was tight, and I just wanted to move my stuff in as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t organize with intention or strategy. I just threw stuff in drawers and cabinets with little rhyme or reason. What I didn\u2019t consider at the time was that the disorganization and clutter would be a hindrance\u2014even subconsciously\u2014to my daily productivity.<\/p>\n\n

Clutter is proven to work against even the most productive professionals. \u201cWhen your environment is cluttered, the chaos restricts your ability to focus,\u201d says Erin Doland<\/a>, summarizing the findings of researchers at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute, adding:<\/p>\n

The clutter also limits your brain\u2019s ability to process information. Clutter makes you distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an uncluttered, organized, and serene environment.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The distraction that clutter introduces often goes unnoticed\u2014yet its restrictive influence on our brains is powerful.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, I strategically cleaned out my office, all with the goal of decluttering for maximum focus. The two hours that I spent organizing were well worth it. I gained a serene work environment, free from the subtle distraction that chaos introduced.<\/p>\n

Clutter is something we must<\/em> eliminate if we want to experience the freedom that comes from productivity. Here are five steps to kill the clutter and organize your workspace for maximum efficiency.<\/p>\n

1. Set aside time to declutter.<\/strong> What gets scheduled gets done, so get it on your calendar. I suggest that you plan for two to three hours of clean-up.<\/p>\n

2. Put all your items in the center of the room.<\/strong> I know what you\u2019re thinking. And, yes, it is going to be a big, ugly pile. I learned this technique from The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up<\/a><\/em>, and it really is the best place to begin. Pull everything<\/em> out of the cabinets and drawers. Don\u2019t try to sort it or organize it. Just get it all out there where you can see it.<\/p>\n

3. Make a list of all the natural groupings.<\/strong> Survey the pile and write down the possible categories present. This list might include topics like audio<\/em>, computer<\/em>, photography<\/em>, office supplies<\/em>, miscellaneous<\/em>, and so on.<\/p>\n

4. Decide what is going to go where.<\/strong> I suggest that you use a five-zone organizing system. The stuff you use most frequently should be closest to you. The stuff you use least frequently should be farthest from you.<\/p>\n